Second time the charm for Hoeffel in Pennsylvania House race

Republican Fox could not fend off Democrat's challenge

ATLANTA (AllPolitics, November 3) -- In a rematch of a 1996 race, two-term Republican incumbent Rep. Jon Fox was not able to fend off the tough challenge this time around from Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel.

Joe Hoeffel

In 1996 Hoeffel lost by just 84 votes in the closest House race in the country. Pennsylvania's 13th district includes most of Montgomery County, outside Philadelphia.

This Democratic pick-up contributed to the party's expected -- and historic -- gains in the House.

Hoeffel, who drew support from some moderate Republicans unhappy with the conservative Congress, began his campaign earlier this time, and had to hope that Fox didn't benefit from any fallout from the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

In October, Hoeffel skipped a Philadelphia fund-raising event attended by President Bill Clinton, telling the Philadelphia Inquirer, "I don't want to be distracted by all of this sensational and salacious focus on the president's behavior."

Hoeffel said he would attend his own, more modest $250 fund-raiser, and in a move to distance himself from the president, said, "I would love to have Hillary back. I would love to have Al Gore."

Fox was forced to ward off three major primary opponents, but unlike two years ago he was not the target of a barrage of AFL-CIO ads.